Successor to HoJo's hotel delayed by design change, developer says

By Neil Vigdor, Staff Writer

Published 9:31 pm, Monday, August 31, 2009

Check-in time is later than expected at the new hotel being built on the former Howard Johnson site in Riverside.

Originally scheduled to open this summer, the 85-room "green" hotel won't be making its debut until at least next spring because of what the project's developer said is a major change in the building's design, not because of the troubled economy.

The rooms at the yet-to-be named hotel will be accessed by interior hallways, a departure from the building's past when it was a motel and guests entered their rooms from the outside.

Mallory said the project is awaiting final approval of the Architectural Review Committee, though some demolition work and pouring of concrete footings has begun.

A mainstay at 1114 E. Putnam Ave. since 1987, the 104-room Howard Johnson closed in January 2008 when its lease ran out.

Plans call for the existing 42,563-square-foot building to be gutted and transformed into an eco-friendly hotel catering to younger guests and business travelers on tighter budgets. A name for the hotel should be chosen by August.

"I'm embarrassed to say we still haven't agreed on a name," Mallory said. "I'm tired of everyone asking me that question and not having a good answer."

Mallory said the new hotel will feature a Blue Smoke chophouse, an upscale barbecue restaurant run by the owners of New York City's famed Union Square Cafe. There is one at the Mets new ballpark, Citi Field.

Between the hotel and restaurant, Mallory has said about 100 people will be employed. The new hotel also will feature a large and "attractive" gym for its guests to use, according to Mallory, who said room rates would probably start around $150-$200 a night. A number of junior suites also will be available, he has said.

Since the Delamar Greenwich Harbor opened six years ago on Steamboat Road, Mallory has said he has heard that many younger travelers have been priced out of staying at the deluxe hotel, where the average rate is $300 a night. That was before the economy tanked, however.

"We're sensitive to the economic conditions right now," Mallory said. "It's a tough market. People are not traveling as much. There's been clearly a drop in corporate travel and corresponding corporate entertaining and a very definite drop in group business."

"Everybody knows the hospitality industry has been hit significantly by this economic downturn, but it will come back," Morrison said.

Morrison said the new design is an improvement over the old one.

"I will venture to say in the end it will pay greater dividends for them," Morrison said.

Morrison added that the combination of the property's location next to the highway and pricing plan could be a recipe for success.

"You're talking about a moderate-priced hotel," she said. "I think the HoJo always did well because of it's proximity to 95."

Mallory said the former motel has an existing outdoor swimming pool that he hopes to have revitalized and turned into a lounge area.

Still, he acknowledged that challenges loom for the hotel.

"I think it's clearly a risk given the fact that there's an overcapacity in the market, too many hotel rooms," Mallory said. "On the other hand, we'll be new, innovative, fun and affordable. We'll be in the right place in the market when we do open."

Staff writer Neil Vigdor can be reached at neil.vigdor@scni.com or at 625-4436.